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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Positive elective c section stories please?

28 replies

CathyandHeathcliff · 21/05/2018 07:16

Just as the title asks.

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 21/05/2018 07:19

Mine was fab and ensured my 10lb 6 DS didn’t rip me from arsehole to breakfast time, as my dear old dad would have said Grin

Tinycitrus · 21/05/2018 07:24

I had three - one emergency, two elective. All fine.

Glassofredandapackofcrisps · 21/05/2018 07:29

Mine was absolutely fine although I was terrified beforehand.
Recovered beautifully and quickly!
Drove after ten days cleaning after three weeks.
Also managed to successfully breastfeed.
A lovely birth.

ProustianMadeleine · 21/05/2018 07:31

Me too. Big baby.

It was all really calm and well managed. They chatted away to me to keep me informed of what was happening the whole way through.

It was fine and although you are, of course, in a bit of pain, they give you pain relief and I found the recovery totally manageable.

DisturblinglyOrangeScrambleEgg · 21/05/2018 07:32

I had 2 emergency ones, and whilst it would have been more convenient to go for an elective, the c-sections were both fine - healed well, BF both kids, there were differences in stitching (different countries), but no issues at all.

And well, catheter afterwards so you don't have to get up and pee is heaven.....

Bowlofbabelfish · 21/05/2018 07:37

What’s worrying you specifically?

GlitterRollerSkate · 21/05/2018 07:37

I had a crash emergency c section first and elective next. The elective was great. I was up and about once the spinal wore off. Was allowed home 25 hours after we arrived. I was able to drive 2 weeks later. So much less painful than my first. All in all a really positive experience. Smile

PatientAcademic · 21/05/2018 07:44

I've had two and loved them both. I got to meet my babies, I wasn't in any pain, and I was able to BF soon after in recovery. I asked for a mirror and got to watch both babies being born, too--that was fab!

NameChangeCuddleBums · 21/05/2018 07:47

I had an elective section for first baby three weeks ago. It was a wonderful experience, baby was born in a peaceful and calm environment, took to BF well, I was up and about a few hours later and discharged the next day. Only 5 days of lochia as well. I felt great (had hyperemesis in pregnancy) and have healed really well.

Good luck for your delivery.

Ohmylord59789234 · 21/05/2018 07:50

I had 1 emergency then 2 electives. Was all fine recovery was easy with the first 2 a little harder with the third, I didn’t even stay a day in hospital with the third she was born 6pm I went home at lunch time the next day.

Babynonamee · 21/05/2018 07:54

My first was an emergency (17 months ago) and my second was an elective (5weeks ago)

The elective was calm. But i didn't realise I had so much scar tissue and adhesions as a result from my first c section... so the elective took 3+ hours.
I found it distressing that the baby was crying to be fed (breastfed) but I couldn't do anything about it for hours as I was being stitched up very slowly due to my scar tissue.
I had a drain put in as my scarring had caused lots of wrapping and bleeding.

Stitching on my first was dissolvable and on my elective they used a wire with a bread either end.

Despite all this, I have healed much faster on my second. Was driving at 3 weeks, stopped painkillers by 1.5 weeks and 5 weeks I feel 99% healed.

If it's your first then go for it, bit of its your second consider if you might have scar tissue. I've never recommended not too have any more children as next time would cause even more Sad

Babynonamee · 21/05/2018 07:54

I've been *

elmo1980 · 21/05/2018 08:06

Had one a couple of days ago and already there is a huge difference to my first emcs.

Although I was already in labour and it was being treated as semi emergency the worst bit was trying to stay still during contractions whilst they put in the spinal block! After that things calmed down, music was playing, everyone chatting and making jokes including us.

I got skin on skin with my baby as we had time to discuss this so I already feel the bonding has gone better this time and the surgeon tidied up my mess of a scar from the first.

Recovery is going well still very sore but can move much easier than I thought I would.

So, in all elcs has been positive for me so far.

Original poster
CathyandHeathcliff · 21/05/2018 09:09

Thank you for all the stories, I'm feeling more positive about it now.

OP posts:
Sleeplikeasloth · 22/05/2018 11:18

It was great. I stayed a couple of nights in hospital, where I was treated really well, and recovery was pretty much pain free. I took painkillers for two weeks, just in case it started hurting.

In terms of getting on with life, I went out every day after getting home, and hosted a big party after two weeks, which involved entertaining for 12 hours straight, and doing lots of baking with baby in a sling.

Sleeplikeasloth · 22/05/2018 11:19

Oh, and the actual surgery was really positive. I had my music, it was a happy and relaxed atmosphere, and it's wonderful meeting your baby when you aren't knackered or in any pain.

Smurfybubbles · 22/05/2018 16:13

I had mine 2 weeks ago and loved it! Everyone in theater was really friendly and chatty. Nice relaxed atmosphere! Recovery has been fine, had my section at 7pm and was out the next day by 6pm Grin

BlueJava · 22/05/2018 16:16

I was 36 and pregant with twins so elected to have a c-section. Worked out very well and pleased I did it. The consultant at the NHS hospital wouldn't do it so we did have to go private but wouldn't have done it any other way. I feel I stayed "in tact", wanted sex with my DP quite soon after and never had any problems with incontinence/bleeding etc. I will never get pregant again, but if I did I would have a c-section. The NCT were a bit sniffy ;) but worked for us.

TroubledLichen · 22/05/2018 16:23

Had DD by ELCS at 38+6. Really lovely and calm experience. I requested an early time as no way was I being starved all day and she was born at 10am. At midday I was in recovery eating a cheese sandwich whilst I waited to be moved to my room. I was up walking and had the catheter out that night. Showered the following morning. Doing laps round my room on day 2. Postpartum bleeding lasted only a few days and was very light. I was sore afterwards but never actually in pain and was able to stop the painkillers entirely after a week. I felt fully myself again within a month and was back in my pre-pregnancy jeans with no pouch/overhang or anything like that. The scar is so low it’s not visible even in low rise underwear.

If I have a second it will definitely be another ELCS. Nothing could persuade me to try natural labour.

Iwantaunicorn · 27/05/2018 21:55

Had my DTs by ELCS 15 weeks ago. I was terrified about having a c section, but it was bloody brilliant. The atmosphere was calm but cheerful, I felt pretty relaxed, and we were all having a laugh (until DT2 had some troubles, but that’s a different story!).

If I have any further kids, it’ll be ELCS all the way for me, no chance of me trying vag birth!

MumWithACamera · 01/06/2018 07:42

I had an ECS for my son due to phobias, so glad I did. Def best decision for me, was asleep the hour before so wasn’t exhausted going into theatre and felt very calm and relaxed.

Whatever you pick, good Luck!

OutComeTheWolves · 01/06/2018 09:41

Loved loved loved mine.

I really really didn't want one beforehand but agreed because it was objectively the best choice. I also had this really weird fear that labour is some sort of bonding experience and therefore I wouldn't love my baby as much Blush.

Anyway the whole thing was very calm and civilised. The doctors were lovely, they had music playing, dh cut the cord and I had skin on skin immediately. And I loved my baby the from the second we met.

I think the thing that made the whole thing so positive was the hospital staff. They made everything feel like a dialogue/collaborative effort rather than them telling me what was going to happen. For example I wanted the dissolvable stitches because I was frightened getting stitches removed would hurt, the consultant explained to me why they prefer the all in one stitch, but said if I insisted I could have the dissolvable ones. Obviously, they have the medical knowledge and I went with their preference but it really felt like I was listened too. I can't speak highly enough of the NHS staff at my local hospital to be honest.

I found the first two days after the op quite tough but nothing unbearable really and by day 10 felt pretty much fine.

DiabolicalMess · 01/06/2018 09:47

Both of mine were uneventful and easy recoveries. Back to normal by the time dh finishes paternity leave.

starfishmummy · 01/06/2018 10:07

Mine was described as a planned emergency due to complications. So it meant I had a date and time ahead and could plan round it. It was delayed as someone in labour needed an elcs so I was not happy esoecially when they were pmying dh with coffee and I coukdnt have anything!!

Apart from that it was all fine

TopofthePops · 01/06/2018 16:55

I had an elective c-section and it was great. The staff were amazing at putting me at ease. Everything went perfect, recovery was easy, no pain killers after 3 days, scar healed quickly with no problems. The only thing was that my scar area felt numb for months afterwards which just felt a bit weird.